G3. 10.4 and iTunes - bad match?

[karavite]

Hello, okay I have a very specific use in mind - dedicate a Mac as a music server to a DAC then to my stereo. iBooks are quiet (no fans) and boy are the G3 iBooks cheap while the G4's are (used and new) priced near to a new intel Macbook (what is up with that?).

So, I could spend about $300 on a G3 iBook, but would it be clunky and slow with 10.4 (or even 10.3?). I once saw an old iMac (the colored round ones) running 10.3 and it was painful. Hard drive space is not a problem (all firewire external drives) and the computer would do nothing but run iTunes. Or should I wait and go for a G4 when the $ drop a bit? I'm leaning toward that.

Always a mini to consider too, but the monitor would be a hassle.

 

[eric2006]

I once had an iMac DV/SE, which has a 400 mhz G3 processor. It had 256MB RAM, and a new 80 GB hard drive. It could handle iTunes very well. As long as you aren't going to be watching movies at the same time, it should work great. Are you sure you want an iBook? Those G4 cubes are pretty sweet: no fans, more HD space, better processors, and you could easily set one up for remote access, all for about the same as a G3 laptop.

 

[karavite]

Thanks Eric - good to know! I tell you, of the 12 macs I have owned, only one was a laptop and that was way back with a Powerbook 400 something running OS 7 on a 68030. All my other laptops have been work owned PCs that I just hated. So you see, I would really like an iBook! However, more importantly is the dreaded WAF is at play here (Wife Acceptance Factor). I mean, this thing is going to be in the sacred living room! An ibook is stylish and can be closed when not in use. A cube or mini with a monitor - no way! I know going remote wireless is an option too, but I want to keep this a little simple (the whole DAC thing is complex enough). Alas, it seems like an iBook is my only option.

P.S. I saw a 12" G3 500 MHZ iBook with 10.3 for $250 (30 day warranty)! I mean, that is pretty darn cheap when g4 ibooks can be had from 600 to $1000 or more!